Burger Chain Shake Shack is one of a number of businesses planning to provide outdoor tables in Oxford. 

The American company opened the three-floor gourmet burger diner on the site of the former Pandora jewellers in Cornmarket Street in December.

It has applied to the city council for a pavement licence, which would allow it to offer tables and chairs outside.

READ MORE: Vandalism in town toilets prompts new cafe scheme 

An application for a pavement licence has already been granted to The Plough pub nearby, and there are now seats for about 30 people outside the pub in Cornmarket, and around the corner in St Michael's Street.

City council spokesman Tony Ecclestone said earlier: "We have granted a licence to The Plough.

"The licences are granted under the pavement licensing system introduced during Covid by the Business and Planning Act.

"They aren’t permanent, and new licences must be applied for after they expire.

Oxford Mail: The Plough in Oxford"Currently all pavement licences can only last for a maximum of one year.

"If we receive a complaint, we will investigate and take appropriate action where it is reasonable and necessary to do so."

READ MORE: Community cafe hosts special cook-in evening

There are 15 Shake Shacks in London and another branch in Cardiff.

The chain’s menu features burgers, fries, hotdogs, beers and shakes.

Shake Shack began as a small hot dog stand operating out of Madison Square Park in New York City in 2001 and grew into a gourmet fast-casual restaurant with more than 377 locations worldwide.

Blackwell's bookshop in Broad Street has applied to renew its pavement licence, and Indian takeaway Chaska House, at Golden Cross, has also applied for a pavement licence.

The city council confirmed that The Store, the new hotel on the corner of Cornmarket and Broad Street, also has a pavement licence.

The hotel is expected to open soon but so far no opening date has been revealed.

One of the most popular spots for eating outdoors in Oxford is Gloucester Green market.

The market runs from Wednesday to Saturday and features traders selling street food from around around the globe.

Help support trusted local news 

Sign up for a digital subscription now: oxfordmail.co.uk/subscribe 

As a digital subscriber you will get: 

  • Unlimited access to the Oxford Mail website 
  • Advert-light access 
  • Reader rewards 
  • Full access to our app 

About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.